On 19th May 2023 the
councillors at Ngorongoro District Council voted in unison to reject in total
the utter madness of the government’s German-facilitated draft 2023-2043 Ngorongoro
District Land Use Framework Plan that’s fabricated to legitimize the brutal
land grab in Loliondo, and a private motion on suffocation of social services
in NCA was supported by all councillors.
Currently a Maasai delegation is in Europe and will hopefully severely deal with those who are facilitating and encouraging the crimes by the Tanzanian government against the Maasai. This evening, 31st May, they attended a public event at the EU Parliament: Forced Evictions in the Name of Conservation: the Role of the EU. I've never written as quickly as a wrote about this event ... (see below, under Maasai delegation to Europe) The evil, lying Tanzanian government representatives fuelled me. Otherwise, this blog post is terribly delayed.
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More worrying is that the CCM Political Committee Arusha Region, with the implementor of the war against the Maasai, RC John Mongella, are currently touring the district, inspecting projects in Loliondo and Sale, and have already been seen in company of councillors.
The land has not been returned
and the Tanzanian government keep taking the livestock. Decades of land rights
struggle in Loliondo could not protect the 1,500 km2 - essential for
lives and livelihoods - from a government high on tourist cult and the blood of
pastoralists. Almost a year ago, all councillors from affected wards were
abducted right before the brutal and lawless demarcation started. Beacons were
planted in a rain of teargas and bullets, security forces were beating,
slashing, cutting, raping and arresting people. Thousands fled to Kenya,
hundreds were arrested and over sixty were charged with bogus immigration cases
that were dismissed – without any attempt at prosecution - months later. The
security forces destroyed houses, stole motorcycles and smartphones, seized and
even shot livestock. Oriais Oleng'iyo who was last seen on 10th June
2022, with bullet wounds and held by security forces, has still not been
brought back to his family, and the enforced disappearance case filed by his
son was on 17th May dismissed by the judge.
The war against the Maasai
continue with the government’s different shades of rangers going after
livestock lawlessly seizing, fining, and even auctioning. Livestock will always
have to enter the land, until the Maasai are no more, but that’s exactly what
the evil Tanzanian government is working on. The other front is to make all
local leaders useless by terrorizing, threatening, and compromising them. The
fake and forced land grab legitimization goes on, facilitated by the Germans.
This must have consequences for the amoral Bundesrepublik. At least
local leaders seem to still be resisting.
In this blog post:
The cattle
rustling Serengeti rangers getting away with disobeying court orders
Other cattle
rustling by rangers
The
anti-pastoralist president ranting again
German-facilitated fake and forced land use planning terror rejected by all
councillors
Maasai
delegation to Europe
Human Rights
Watch investigating and speaking up, and some press
UN Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues where the Tanzanian government kept lying
Letter from
the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The very many
court cases
Msomera
villagers speaking up and a reminder of the NCAA threats that keep intensifying
NCA protest
banners at visit by the VP
Don’t mix up
Loliondo and NCA!
Briefest
mention of colonial conservation elsewhere in Tanzania
Updates at the end of this blog post.
The cattle
rustling Serengeti rangers getting away with disobeying court orders
Already in the previous (now
quite old) blog post, I mentioned the drawn-out crime committed by Serengeti
rangers of 21st March on illegally demarcated village land in the
Osero Sopia area of Ololosokwan village. 440 cows belonging to people from
Mairowa, Njoroi, Olekenta, and Osero Sopia (Ntasikoy Pere, Leshoko Tanin,
Toroge Oriais, Kumoi Naing'isa, Orantai Nampaso) were seized and taken to
Bologonja in the national park. On Friday 24th March, one of the
cattle owners, Oriais Toroge, who had come to claim the cows, was arrested and
taken to Mugumu. He was released on bail, and there was an “illegal grazing”
case. No herders had been arrested when the cows were seized, as there were
heavy rains, the young herders sought shelter, and the cattle strayed. The magistrate
in Mugumu, not living up to SENAPA’s expectations, ruled that the cows had been
lost, and ordered their release, but Davis Mushi, Serengeti senior
conservator and head of security department, and Kasekwa Maisha, who’s
in charge of the rangers at Bologonja refused to release the cattle, and then
on 6th April, ignored court summons for disobeying court orders.
The reason that the Serengeti
rangers take cattle from Ololosokwan to Bologonja is that it’s then a case for
the Mugumu court that has often ordered the auctioning of livestock. This time
this evil scheme did not work out for them, and it looked very promising
indeed, until everything went downhill again. The advocate for the Maasai,
Yonas Masiaya Laizer, had sought an Ex parte hearing or arrest warrant, but the
court decided to instead wait for the appeal by the Serengeti National Park
criminals.
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| Davis Mushi |
For some reason, the
respondent in the illegal grazing case was Solio Toroge who’s the brother of
Oriais who was arrested. The other cattle owners weren’t mentioned. It’s been
explained to me that this is just how confused things are. The rangers claimed
that the cows were seized in the national park at Kuka Hills. However, Kuka Hills
is in Ololosokwan, in the area illegally demarcated as a “game reserve”, just
like Osero Sopia were the herders say that the cows were seized.
On 25th April, the
judge at the high court in Musoma ruled that Solio Toroge should pay one fine
of TShs 100,000, plus a payment of 5,000 per cow per day and 2,500 per calf per
day. This was a disappointment when the magistrate had ordered unconditional
release, which was disobeyed by the national park people, but better than the
usual 100,000 per head of cattle and much better than auctioning.
Around early April it was
observed that the Bologonja rangers had been given new motorcycles with minimal
sound (probably electric). I have not been able to find out who the sponsor is.
One ranger had an accident in Ololosokwan and cracked his skull. He did not
survive.
In May I haven’t got any
reports at all about the Bologonja rangers.
Other
cattle rustling by rangers
It’s almost impossible to
obtain information from other villages than Ololosokwan and Malambo, not least
Oloipiri has always been difficult, but there were reports that on 12th
April 200 cows were seized in this village. The cows were released the
following day after the owners paid the 20 million "fine".
Several people have expressed
an interest in compiling all cases of cattle seizures. Very laudable, but then
they better start working 24-7 on it. Or maybe they would be given information
with less effort than I.
On 17th April, 304
sheep belonging to Mbaoi Pusindawa from Lemetema were captured by rangers when
taken to water in the fake and illegal game reserve in the Nadengare area,
Sanjan, Malambo. The sheep were taken to the Orng'oswa camp and the owner had
to pay an illegal 7.6 million “fine”, 25.000 per sheep.
On 2nd May, 268
cows belonging to three members of the Tiiye family were illegally seized in
the Orng'oswa area of Sanjan sub-village of Malambo, on land brutally and
lawlessly demarcated as “game reserve”.
250 cows belonging to mzee Sarkay Tiiye, 12 belonging to mzee Olodupa
Tiiye, and 6 belonging to Kimani Tiiye. The owners paid the extortion money of TShs
26.8 million the following day and the cows were released.
On 3rd May, 120
cows were seized by 12 rangers from Serengeti, NCAA and the Field Force Unit,
in the Empiripiri area of Ololosokwan, just outside the illegally demarcated
game reserve. The owner, Kutiti Ketuta, was severely beaten, his testicles
crushed. The extortion money of TShs 100,000 per head of cattle was paid.
There has also been widespread
cattle seizure from Irkereyani in Iltulele in Naiyobi ward, NCA, that’s in the
same Nadengare area with water as is found in the illegally demarcated game
reserve in Malambo. I have not been able to obtain exact information, but it’s
been reported that 600 cows were seized on 28th April and not
released until 5th May when the usual extortion “fines” had been
paid.
As
of 25th May, the cattle were still being held, according to several sources,
and on the 31th there did not appear to be any change. Authorities
are demanding the name of the hero with the arrow, which may not be known by
anyone, and if it’s known I expect it not to be told.
The anti-pastoralist president ranting again
On
23rd May, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, again showed off her vicious
anti-pastoralism and her lack of respect for the independence of the judiciary.
Addressing newly appointed judges, she ranted about bribes in lower-level
courts, using the example of pastoralists in Lindi who were caught committing a
crime (alleged grazing in Nyerere National Park), but then found innocent by
the magistrate, so that the RC had to intervene. The president said that this
way “normal” people – obviously, to her, pastoralists are something else – cannot
obtain justice.
German facilitated
fake and forced land use planning terror
As reported earlier in this
blog, on 28th February and 30th March meetings were held
at Ngorongoro District Council Hall in Wasso to legitimize fake and forced land
use planning, primarily the brutal and lawless demarcation of a “game reserve”
on village land in 2022. Another meeting was expected for early May but kept
being delayed. These terrible efforts go under the name of Ngorongoro District Land Use Framework Plan 2023-2043
and were initiated by team of 40 state security and surveyors that in late
October/November were sent to re-survey the villages in Loliondo and Sale using
illegitimate or compromised village leaders, while the DC talked about Wildlife
Management Areas, which surely is the last thing needed … The crime
legitimation is led by DC Raymond Mwangwala, district officials, principally Ngorongoro
Land officer and chairman of the land planning committee, Kelvin Aligaweza, the
National Land Use Commission, and Frankfurt Zoological Society, with its
partners TANAPA and the German Development Bank, KfW.
Fortunately, the councillors
of the wards affected by the brutal and lawless demarcation of the so-called
“Pololeti Game Reserve” have not attended the meetings and were on 30th
March publicly threatened by the DC for, as members of the ruling party,
obstructing the project. On 19th May they, and the rest of the
Ngorongoro councillors, unanimously refused to sign the genocidal draft
district land use plan.
The Maasai traitors that have
been shown off at both meetings are the often and increasingly dubious and
“investor-friendly” chairman of Soitsambu village, Marko Lorru, and Joseph
Parsambei of the NGO TPCF, who in the past at least I thought was serious. The other
traitors (much mentioned in this blog) that were very active and causing great
damage from around 2014 have not been seen or heard during the crimes of 2022, and
some of them have, as councillors, been speaking up against the current crimes.
Maps photographed during the
meetings – I have still not got hold of the document itself (which is
unreasonable!) – besides the brutally and lawlessly demarcated “Pololeti Game
Reserve” show zoning in Loliondo and Sale. It was feared that the plan for
Ngorongoro division is to keep to the genocidal Multiple Land Use Model
proposal, which is what is being done with the Loliondo and Sale zoning where
the Ngorongoro part of Lake Natron GCA appear as a “reserved” area as well. In
fact, somewhat blurry maps show the whole of NCA as a reserved area, and a
ridiculous 12.5% of the whole district is supposed to be for grazing. This is
totally deranged and must be stopped at any cost.
On 19th May, the
Ngorongoro councillors voted in unison to reject Ngorongoro District Land Use
Framework Plan 2023-2043 and in support of a motion against the suffocation of
social services in NCA, presented by Shutuk Kitamwas. Those who have moved to
Msomera – Tiamasi from Kakesio and Rumai from Eyasi – were not present, but it
seems like the rejection and the motion were even supported by the most
compromised and by unlikely non-pastoralist councillors, including the council
chairman, Mohammed Marekani Bayo, who not only is a non-pastoralist, but OBC’s
community liaison since many years. However, to the press, Marekani’s message
was more problematic, or more exactly infuriating, since he was pretending that
the main problem would be that the plan is written in English, saying that he’s
in agreement with the government that would never do anything to hurt its
citizens (sic!), but that the plan needs some amendments. This individual was
elected as council chairman while ten councillors were illegally locked up in
remand prison. Marekani must obviously be removed as council chairman.
With all the support from
media, international organizations and individuals, it’s strange that the
Germans are not held more to account for their support for the ongoing crime,
but that may be changing right now.
Maasai
delegation to Europe
A Maasai delegation is
currently in Europe to visit Germany, Austria, and the EU headquarters in
Brussels.
-The current conservation
model, promoted in Tanzania (and around the world) destroys the lives of the
Maasai. As pastoralists, the Maasai do not destroy nature but conserve land,
wildlife and protected biodiversity as it is their living ground.
-Funding for conservation
projects that violated human rights must stop.
-Conservation must go hand in
hand with land rights and human rights
There will be a roundtable
event around “Forced evictions of the Maasai in the Name of Conservation>”:
the Role of the EU and its Member States. Co-organized by the European Green
Party, S&D, Renew and The Left with Maasai and European support
organisations. And today 31st May there was a public event at the
European parliament.
The Maasai delegates are
Edward Porokwa from PINGOs Forum, the lawyer Joseph Oleshangay from Endulen, Nengai
Kilusu Laizer from Oloirobi, Noorkishili Nakero Naing’isa from Ololosokwan
and Kiaro Orminis from Arash.
Early on, the 23rd
I think, there was a meeting with FZS connected via Zoom to Ngorongoro where
placards with a very exact message were shown. It seems like FZS have gone into
panic denial mode about their decades working against Maasai land rights and
their current deep involvement with the crimes committed by the Tanzanian
government. They describe their work like this.
Apparently, the evil
hypocrites FZS are trying to justify their facilitation of the 2023-2043
Ngorongoro District Land Use Framework Plan, that’s legitimizing the crimes of
2022, with that they are trying to help “communities” “acquire rights” to the remaining
2,500 km2 through some abbreviation (CCRO)! No thanks! The land
rights were already thoroughly protected through Tanzanian law, but the brutal
and lawless government, supported by German funds, don’t care. The 1,500 km2
are essential for Maasai culture and livelihood in Loliondo and must be returned!
Customary rights to Wasso and Loliondo towns won’t help. Not that anyone
believes it to be FZS’s aim. Though if they are eager to prove some kind of
seriousness, FZS can start by calling for the removal of Thomson Safaris
“private nature refuge”.
On 26th May, the
delegation visited Frankfurt Zoo with their demand of a stop to colonial
conservation.
On 27th May, DW
aired a brief but good interview with Joseph and Noorkishili. Then an
informative piece about Maasai from NCA (remember, NOT Loliondo) that had been
relocated to other people’s land in Msomera and the problems that this is
causing. Unfortunately, this piece ended with the lies by the Handeni DC,
Albert Msando, who could claim that the Msomera villagers had settled there
illegally, without anyone setting the record straight that Msomera is a legally
registered village. Then the last part was a terrible interview with the
Tanzanian ambassador to Germany, Abdallah Possi, who could go on and on lying
to a painfully unprepared reporter who was not even able to question him about denied
social services in NCA, or the brutal and illegal eviction and demarcation
operation in Loliondo, with massive cattle theft and extortion after the brutal
theft of land. Loliondo isn’t even mentioned, only some vague “there’s another
place”. I wish there would instead have been a debate between Joseph and the
ambassador.
There was an emotional roller-coaster tonight watching the brave and eloquent Maasai at the public event in the European
parliament at the same time as the maliciously lying Tanzanian government
representatives, and the – apparently – frivolous parliamentarians. Any
Tanzanian can tell you about the risks of speaking truth to power, for
which there isn’t even any avenue in Tanzania.
EU Parliamentarian Michèle Rivasi chaired the event and Josianne Gauthier, Secretary General of
the CIDSE, network of Catholic social and environmental justice organisations, had some words that first seemed so general and non-specific that I wanted
to scream, but then I realized that she made good points.
Nengai sang a song about the repression
and deadly restrictions in her home in NCA, and the naked brutality in Loliondo.
Noorkishili most eloquently in Maa, with pauses for translation and not simultaneous
as for the other languages used, described the attack on Loliondo, especially
her home village Ololosokwan. Though much of her intervention was in defence
against the government’s accusations of environmental destructiveness, which
she did convincingly, but she would have the same human rights even if not
being so much more non-damaging than the government goons, or the EU Parliamentarians, for that matter. She explained that the Maasai of
Loliondo must have their land back, or it’s the end of their existence.
While respecting the time given, Joseph effectively explained Loliondo and NCA, so that everyone present must
understand the two separate, but closely related issues.
Olivier De Schutter, UN Special
Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, explained that the Maasai,
under international law, have an absolute right to free, prior informed consent,
however nice houses are prepared for them elsewhere. He said that to several
letters sent to the Tanzanian government the reply had always been about
establishing the Ngorongoro Pastoral Council, and about population growth. It
did not seem like Schutter had heard about Loliondo.
Jestas Abouk Nyamanga, Tanzanian ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and European Union Commission mostly followed the script from the Tanzanian lies at the UN (see below), going on about how there aren’t any indigenous people in Tanzania. Then he engaged in the rather extreme terra nullius lie about Loliondo, claiming that it had always been a protected area through German and British colonialism, since it’s an important corridor for wildebeest and (baselessly) more and less the only water source for the Serengeti ecosystem … How come then that the DC and the district headquarters are in Loliondo? He claimed that there had been consultations since 2017, and agreement by the Maasai, for demarcating the 1,500 km2. Then why were all councillors from affected wards abducted on the eve of the demarcation and locked up for over five months? The hypocrite pretended that people being eaten by wild animals was a big issue for the government and a reason to move the NCA Maasai to Handeni. He said that the Special Rapporteur had not come to Tanzania since allegations were unsubstantiated, as had been seen by the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights commissioners. That ACHPR commission was ridiculously commandeered by the Tanzanian government (described in several blog posts) and did not meet one single victim, or independent voice in Loliondo. As far as I know, they have not yet released a report. The ambassador said that if the Maasai present would call themselves “indigenous” in Tanzania, they’d get killed by other Maasai. Really?
Added 1st June: I forgot to mention that the ambassador lied that social services in NCA had been cut due a diminished population following relocations to Msomera! Not only is it a tiny percentage that has relocated, but already funded projects are blocked since 2021, before the Msomera scam was even a leaked plan.
All non-Tanzanians present
stressed the importance of visiting Tanzania independently, not
guided by the government, to talk freely to the Maasai, without
fears. I just wish that Special Rapporteur Calí Tzay could come clean on why he
suspended his visit in December … Though calling a spade a spade is maybe against
protocol, or something. There will never be an independent visit. Why can’t
they just go anonymously as tourists? They won’t be arrested as I was, I
think.
EU Parliamentarian Pierrette
Herzberger-Fofana was non-specific but made good points about an independent
visit, and EU parliamentarian Malté Gallée was asking for the same.
Then Joseph responded to Ambassador
Nyamanga most brilliantly. I hope there is a recording. He made it
clear that the ambassador was not only lying about the brutal demarcation and
evictions in Loliondo and criminal threats and restrictions in NCA, but was
also talking rubbish about wildebeest and everything else. Noorkishili asked if
people were killed by vehicles in Brussels, should everyone be relocated somewhere
else?
Rivasi asked about OBC, as if she
didn’t know anything and about an independent visit.
Ambassador Nyamanga again
complained about how non-Tanzanian it was to talk about tribes and handed over
to the maliciously stupid Professor Malebo (se below and more in previous blog
posts).
Malebo said that Loliondo had
been a hunting block since German times and that OBC got the license in an open
process. Everyone still remembers the Loliondogate scandal, but that’s a minor issue compared to the human rights crimes of later years. Then he went into the
classic anti-Loliondo insinuations, saying that there are three other investors
in the area. Just name them and we’ll respond, as I’ve done so many times in
this blog … He went a step further than the classic Manyerere Jackton-style propaganda claiming that the
Purko, Loita and Laitayok sections are “Kenyan”. Usually, the government's (and other friends of OBC) lie is
that only the Laitayok are Tanzanian. As a “forensic expert” he said that no
guns were used during the demarcation and that the police were there to protect
those demarcating the land. And of course, people are being eaten by wild animals
every day. That’s his favourite.
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| Nyamanga and Malebo lying their heads off. |
Another Tanzanian government
representative (I’ll get his name before next blog post) talked about how
democratic Tanzania is. How else could the African Court on Human and Poeples' Rights be
found in the country?
The ambassador added that the
Maasai are a domestic issue and Tanzania takes care of them very well. Then he
insulted the Maasai present, quite openly saying that they will be paid, that
the EU parliamentarians could pay them already, and that genuine Maasai are of an entirely different opinion.
Noorkishili wondered about personal
security upon her return home and said that they aren’t enemies of the
government.
I hope to dedicate next blog
post entirely to FZS, Germany and the Maasai tour and I hope to be able to
watch a recording of the public EU event.
Added 1st June: I was in a hurry to write and publish while the public EU event was still fresh in my mind, but it was also shown, and recorded, on Mwanzo TV and I will watch it again before writing next blog post.
Human Rights Watch investigating and speaking up
On 27th April,
Human Rights Watch released a report saying that the Tanzanian government’s
forced eviction of Maasai communities from areas in northern Tanzania they have
long inhabited violates their rights to land, livelihood, and culture. The
organization has interviewed 45 victims of the violence of the brutal and lawless Loliondo land theft, and its effect on lives and livelihoods. HRW have attentively
listened to the victims and explained the continuing terror of 2022. However,
they have not got the background from the previous fifteen or so years that
well.
The issue that HRW are bringing
most light to, one about which the voices of witnesses have earlier not quite
been heard, is rape and sexual assault in 2022. The accounts by witnesses are
horrifying, even if unsurprising in the general dehumanization of the illegal
evictions and demarcation exercise. It has been mentioned, but long after other
violence was reported, and without any details. There were widespread reports
of rape in the 2009 illegal mass arson operation (before I started blogging),
but since no victims came forward, I was told that it was better to leave it
out. In the mass arson operation of 2017, which should have been impossible
after all efforts to stop a repeat of the horrors of 2009 … some victims did
come forward, with their faces and names, defying what I’ve been told is a big taboo
to talk about, but it didn’t change anything at all. There was limited
reporting, they didn’t even get medical help, nobody seems to remember, and
then it was repeated in 2022.
Another issue HRW adds weight
to is their analysis of detailed satellite imagery of de demarcated area (area
A, not area B in Malambo, it seems), which found that in July 2022 some 90
bomas were burned.
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| Arash 12th March 2023 |
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| Burning bomas in Maaloni, 20th July 2022 |
However, HRW, like almost
everyone writing about Loliondo, just couldn’t get the years that there have
been mass arson operations right. The correct years are 2009 and 2017, and
those evictions differ from 2022 in that the land wasn’t demarcated or
reclassified, and the Maasai could return after the violence. HRW were also
confused about Wildlife Conservation Act 2009 (it came into operation in 2010,
not 2022) and did not turn LGCA into a protected area. It may not be important,
but I don’t like it that LGCA is described as a “multi-use area”, which sounds
like NCA, when it’s 100% village land, and an old GCA that demarcates the
hunting block. There’s more to comment on, but HRW’s work with the victims of
the 2022 violence is really, really valuable.
Cédric
Gouverneur published an article in Le Monde Diplomatique,
even before my latest blog post, but it was hidden behind a paywall until early
May. Cédric too has met and talked to affected people in Loliondo, to those in Ngorongoro
Conservation Area, and not least to the Msomera villagers, and reports their
words in very authentic way (unlike some actors in the past). He describes the
ideology leading to these crimes, some of the dangerous German influence in the
past, but nothing about how the Germans are supporting and facilitating
current, ongoing crimes. Why are /were they allowed to get away with everything?
(Everyone’s fault, not Gouverneur’s). Then Gouverneur too includes a year when
there certainly were not evictions in Loliondo (2013). Why must all journalists
and organisations do that, even if they don’t mention the same incorrect year?
I notice some tendency to
Magufuli myth in the article (and elsewhere). Yes, Samia Suluhu Hassan is the worst president
ever for the Maasai of Loliondo and Ngorongoro, but before her, that space was
held by Magufuli. The terror of 2016 silenced almost all local activists in
Loliondo, leaders in a "select committee" agreed to a previously unacceptably sad compromise proposal,
and in 2017 what should just not have been possible after all work to never
again see a mass arson eviction operation like the one of 2009, and at a time
when everyone was waiting to hear from PM Majaliwa, happened anyway. After stopping the illegal operation, Kigwangalla’s decision to chase OBC out of Tanzania was reversed in less
than a month and in 2018 the terror was worse than ever. Only in 2019 were
there some months of calm after OBC’s Tanzanian director was locked up for a
long stay in remand prison, but he was extorted, freed and back to work before
Magufuli’s death. In September 2019 was the genocidal Multiple Land Use Model
review proposal presented, and it included a proposal for the Loliondo land
theft that was committed in 2022, but local leaders in Loliondo almost
pretended that it was an NCA problem that didn’t concern them. Then I wonder
where the evidence is that Kinana had to resign for being corrupted by OBC,
which he’s been since the early 1990s. I haven’t seen any such evidence. Isn’t it
more likely that OBC’s director got into trouble for being close to Kinana whom
Magufuli felt threatened by?
I may seem too critical, but
both HRW and Cédric Gouverneur have done a mostly excellent and very important
job. The East African, on the other hand, on 7th May, published an
article that I fear will lead to confusion for many years, like has happened
before. This time the journalist had no idea that Loliondo and NCA are two
different areas and different issues. The mix-up is complete. I’ve been told
that we should appreciate that they write about Ngorongoro, but to me this is
bitter and frustrating. I’ve spent thousands and thousands of hours, and almost
as many tears, on straightening out the facts so that journalists won’t have to
make unnecessary mistakes, but it’s ignored.
On 24th May another
article, by Paul Tullis in Bloomberg, was published. Tullis too has done a most
excellent job talking to victims of the violent land theft, but unnecessarily
quoting some incorrect information. The stories of
several people from Ololosokwan are told in this article.
The past year there have been so many articles that I'm having a hard time keeping up. In the past I'd have analyzed every word, maybe not always in this blog, but certainly with my contacts.
Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Tanzanian government keeps lying
On 18th April, at a
side event to the twenty-second session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues, Tanzanian activists informed the attendants of the current state of the
Loliondo evictions and the so-called “voluntary” relocations from Ngorongoro
Conservation Area. Edward Porokwa of PINGOs Forum, who’s one of the best,
explained. Still, there was limited time, some dates were mixed up, and I think
interested attendants need something more detailed and exact, and in writing,
which I hope they got. Most of all, I hope that they find my blog, and contact
me with their questions.
The Tanzanian government was
represented by Zuleikha Tambwe of the Tanzania
Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Tambwe used the question space to
maliciously and ignorantly claim that allegations of evictions from “Ngorongoro
Conservation Area” had been found false and unfounded by the East African Court
of Justice in September. She must have meant “Loliondo” and had got everything else
wrong as well, both willingly and apparently due to confusion. Porokwa
explained that the case had been about the 2017 operation in Loliondo (not the
illegal demarcation of 2022) that the court was to establish if it took place
in Serengeti National Park or village land, that the ruling was postponed the
last minute, the first geospatial expert was threatened and the report by the
second one was dismissed since the judges found that he didn’t have the correct
work permit. Porokwa also mentioned that there had been a constitutional case
about the 2009 mass arson, but since another attendant had asked about whether
legal action had been taken, I wish that he had mentioned that there are
several ongoing cases about the 2022 brutal and lawless demarcation of a
protected area (see below). At least seven cases, and one about NCA (Ngorongoro
division).
The recording of the side event is for some reason no longer online.
I’ve earlier written with some
detail about the 2017 case, Reference No.10 of 2017, that was dismissed in September 2022, but the main
issues are the frankly weird postponement the day before the ruling was
scheduled on 22nd June 2022, during the illegal demarcation exercise
(in brutal violation of the orders by the same court), another last-minute
postponement in September, but then just to the following day when an unusually
brief ruling was delivered. Then not only were there witnesses whose basic
words the judges, judging by the ruling, had just not understood, but the
government’s own documents and statements from the time clearly show that the
2017 mass arson was committed on village land, and even so the ruling was that
the Maasai had failed to prove that it didn't take place in Serengeti National Park. Still,
the ruling establishes that there is national park and then there is village
land, which the government lie of 2022 consists of denying while making up an
inexistent protected area. This is the same lie as was used by Kagasheki in
2013, while in between other lies have been used by the Tanzanian government.
On 21st April, the
Tanzanian government issued “A rebuttal of claims about the so-called
indigenous peoples in Tanzania”, and this was presented by UNESCO’s general
secretary in Tanzania, the terrible liar and defender of every government
crime, Prof. Hamisi M. Malebo, together with Zuleikha Tambwe.
 |
| The monsters of malicious lying, Tambwe and Malebo, flanking José Francisco Calí Tzay. |
The main part of the
government’s rebuttal (before it gets even worse) is dedicated to, as usual,
denying the existence of indigenous people in Tanzania, with the argument that
all 120 ethnic groups identify first and foremost as Tanzanians, enjoying the
same guaranteed rights, that Nilotic groups, like the Maasai, arrived late, and
that the indigenous concept is “colonial” and belittle local communities as
inferior. The indigenous argument can indeed be a diversion leading to loss of
focus on the fact that the Tanzanian government is brutal and lawless, breaking
all its own laws, regardless of recognizing the Maasai as indigenous, or not.
The “colonial” argument is not so little dishonest when the government uses
both colonial myths to dehumanize the Maasai, in parliament and in media, and
engages in colonial-style land alienation invoking terra nullius, with punitive
expeditions led by very colonial regional- and district commissioners.
According to the United
Nations, indigenous peoples are "inheritors and practitioners of unique
cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. It refers to the
people who have retained social, cultural, economic and political
characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which
they live. They have sought to maintain their ways of life despite external
pressures for centuries, and today, their uniqueness and diversity continue to
be threatened." This definition is included in the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was adopted by the UN
General Assembly in 2007. I’d say that most Tanzanians, both friends and
enemies of the Maasai, would agree that the Maasai are indigenous, if using
this definition.
Talking about terra nullius … in its rebuttal the government claims that
the 4,000 km2 Loliondo Game Controlled Area has stood unoccupied
since time immemorial, was turned into a protected area by the Germans in 1891,
and was only “encroached” by the Maasai after independence in 1961. Earlier
this government lie – picked up by minister Damas Ndumbaro in 2022 and lectured
to giggling, spineless diplomats - has been about the British and 1951, but
deputy minister of legal and constitutional affairs, Geophrey Pinda, in Banjul in
October 2022, used the Germans for his lie, which was particularly sad to see, since it was his
father, then PM Mizengo Pinda, who on 23rd September 2013 in Wasso
declared that the land belonged to the Maasai who should go on with their lives
as usual, and that then Minister Kagasheki would not be allowed to bother them
anymore.
The
terra nullius lie not only defies common sense, but there are still
elderly Maasai who lived in Loliondo before independence and whose parents and
grandparents were born and died in Loliondo. There are also colonial memories (like
David Read’s) of how the same three Maasai sections found there today were in
the 1920s well-established in Loliondo, there was a district officer, prison, shops
in Loliondo and Soitsambu, a cattle market in Malambo and more, with the
difference that Seronera, now in Serengeti National Park, was much inhabited by
the Maasai. Though brutal and lawless evictions would of course not even be
justifiable against people who had only lived in an area for half a century.
The land was owned and used by
the Maasai before and during colonial times under customary ownership, which
was recognized by the Land Act of 1923. In the 1970s the villages in Loliondo
and Sale were registered under the Village and Ujamaa Villages Act, in 1982
under the Local Government (District Authorities) Act, and then got further
protection as village land belonging to the village assembly (all adult
villagers) managed by the village council under Village Land Act No.5 of 1999.
Eviction from this land is in contravention and violation of the Constitution
of the United Republic of Tanzania, Village Land Act 1999, Wildlife
Conservation Act, 2009, and the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC. The
government does of course know all this, but counts on getting away with any
shameless lie, perhaps emboldened by many diplomats, and certainly emboldened
by Germans.
The Tanzanian government’s
most favourite shameless lie was unsurprisingly included, “The challenges
caused by the encroachment into the 4,000 km2 Loliondo Game
Controlled Area has been addressed by leaving 2,500 km2 of the lawfully
reserved land to the people who encroached the area in consideration of their
livelihoods and right to life.”
This lie is so disgusting and
so deeply insulting. Claiming that the brutal and lawless theft of land would
signify generous gifting of land. The government “logic” implies that even the
district headquarters and the DC’s office have “encroached” a supposed protected
area. As the government very well knows, the entire 4,000 km2 is
legally registered village land and the home of the Maasai for centuries. The
game controlled area delimits the hunting block and could before Wildlife
Conservation Act 2009 came into operation totally overlap with village land.
With the new Act, game controlled areas are protected areas, not allowed to
overlap with village land, and were supposed to be revised within one year of
the Act coming into operation (2010) – which did not happen. There was a proposal –
funded by the hunting investor OBC – to turn 1,500 km2 into the new kind of
game controlled area, but this was strongly rejected by Ngorongoro District
Council in 2011, for its incompatibility with Maasai livelihoods and right to
life.
For decades, a land rights
struggle has stopped the government’s efforts to alienate the 1,500 km2
of important village land, even when harassment, amounting to a local police
state in Loliondo, has been intense, and when the government has conducted
illegal mass arson operations in 2009 and 2017.
The 1,500 km2 that
the Tanzanian government, lobbied by OBC, and no doubt feeling the support of
FZS, illegally demarcated as a protected area, includes most grazing land in Loliondo, while the 2,500 km2
that the government maliciously pretends to have given the Maasai, out of the
goodness of its heart, contains two towns, agricultural areas, an ugly land
grab by the American Thomson Safaris, and forest reserves. The Maasai are
supposed to squeeze into this land, losing some 75% of their grazing land.
The last communication between
the government and the Loliondo Maasai before the government’s brutal attack, was
on 25th May 2022 when Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa by a large
committee of Maasai representatives was handed reports of community
recommendations on both NCA and the threatened 1,500 km2 in
Loliondo/Sale. Majaliwa said that he was going to work on the recommendations but
then nothing was ever heard from him regarding this. The Loliondo/Sale report
recommended a stop to any plans of alienating the 1,500 km2,
investigations into human rights violations, and the removal of the investor
OBC.
 |
| 25th May 2022, very soon several attendants would be locked up in remand prison on bogus murder charges. |
Then, in June 2022, security forces invaded Loliondo. All councillors (except one who fled) from wards that were to be affected by land alienation were abducted, then charged with murder for a killing that took place the day after the abduction and locked up in remand prison for over five months, together with people initially arrested under suspicion of having shared information about the brutality. In a rain of teargas and bullets, the security forces started planting beacons to demarcate 1,500 km2 as a protected area. There were beatings and slashing, people were arrested on false charges that were later dropped. Some were raped. There was seizing and even shooting of livestock. Houses were destroyed while motorcycles and smartphones were stolen. Thousands of people fled to Kenya and some of them while seriously injured. All this was done in violation of court orders that were already in force, and several new cases have been filed.
85-year old Oriais Oleng'iyo
was last seen on 10th June 2022, with bullet wounds and held by security
forces, and his whereabouts are still unknown.
Government officials, the
Prime Minister included, appeared in Loliondo for military celebrations and
threats, and in international environments with concerted lies.
On 17th June 2022
then Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Pindi Chana, unlawfully
converted the 1,500 km2 into the new kind of game controlled area,
on 28th September 2022 this land was placed under the management of
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and on 14th October 2022, President
Samia Suluhu Hassan unlawfully gazetted the same land as a game reserve.
The land alienation was
committed during a drought, which led to increased loss of livestock. Rangers
keep seizing livestock, demanding extortionate fines of TShs 100,000 per head
of cattle and TShs 25,000 per sheep or goat for any animals found inside the
illegally demarcated area. Hundreds of livestock have even been auctioned by
the rangers.
The land has been taken, the
livestock keep being taken, lives are stolen.
The lies about Ngorongoro
Conservation Area in this government rebuttal were no less extreme, ranging
from the usual population panic to using the government-created poverty against
the Maasai themselves, to lying that the Msomera scam was designed in
consultation with local community when neither the Maasai in Ngorongoro not the
Msomera villagers were even informed before hearing about it in anti-Maasai
media, or in the Msomera case being overrun by government delegations demarcating
their land for Ngorongoro migrants. See more about this below.
Letter
from the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On 24th April, the
UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on the
Tanzanian Government to immediately halt plans for relocation and forcible
evictions of Maasai communities from their ancestral land in Loliondo and
Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This was far from the first letter from CERD.
The very many
court cases
-The ruling in the case of
enforced disappearance of 85-year-old Oriais Oleng'iyo of Ololosokwan, Loliondo
division, in Ngorongoro District, Miscellaneous Criminal Application No.
68 of 2022 was set for 10th May but postponed till the 17th
when it was dismissed by judge Gwae.
85-years old Orias Oleng'iyo from Ololosokwan has not been seen
since 10th June 2022, at his home in the Engong'u area of
Ololosokwan, with bullet wounds and held by security forces that had been sent
in their hundreds to brutally and lawlessly demarcate 1,500 km2 of village land
and very important grazing land, as the protected area that the “investor” OBC
for years has been lobbying for. Unlike other abducted people from Loliondo,
Oriais never appeared on lists of those who had been detained and was not among
those charged with bogus charges that were dismissed after months of illegal
detention and torture. His son Ndoloi, who last saw his father being taken away
by security forces, filed an habeas corpus case in court.
What the plaintiff was applying
for:
1. The Court to order the
defendants to bring before the Court Oriais Pasilange Ng'iyo who has been taken
to an unknown location since he was arrested at his home in Engong'u Nairowa,
Ololosokwan Ward, Loliondo, Ngorongoro District.
2. Court to order the
respondents to set at liberty Oriais Oleng'iyo.
3. The Court to order the
respondents to attend Court to explain the reasons for holding Orias Pasilange
Ng'iyo against the Law.
4. The Court to order the
respondents to bring back the body of Oriais Pasilange Ng'iyo dead or alive.
Miscellaneous Criminal
Application No. 68 of 2022 was on 17th May dismissed by judge Gwae.
The "reasons" were: Oriais Oleng'iyo's son failed to prove that the
respondents arrested his father, they weren't those responsible for the
demarcation exercise (meaning Inspector General of Police, and others, but not
the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism), and there were no other
witnesses. This ruling must be appealed.
Where is Orias Oleng'iyo?
 |
| Picture of Oriais' voter ID. Regularly tweeted by Maria Sarungi Tsehai (here 30th May). |
At the hearing of Miscellaneous
Civil Cause No. 21 of 2022, the judicial review challenging former
Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Pindi Chana's Government Notice
No.421, of 17th June 2022, declaring the fake and illegal “Poloteti
Game Controlled Area” the government lawyer raised a preliminary objection
about being served late with the application. The case was postponed to 15th
May when the preliminary objections were dismissed, and the case was heard on
29th May when it was agreed that it should proceed by way of written
submission.
The case challenging President
Samia’s Government Notice No.604, gazetting the fake and illegal “Pololeti Game
Reserve” on 14th October 2022 - Miscellaneous Civil Cause No.
178 of 2022 was scheduled for hearing yesterday 30th May 2023,
but postponed since the judge was sick.
In the East African Court
of Justice, the ongoing case against the Tanzanian government’s fake and
illegal “Pololeti Game Reserve” is Reference No.37 of 2022. In
late September 2022, the government side responded with some wildly lying
objections, but then I haven’t seen anything scheduled. The EACJ is not very speedy.
Appeal No.13
of 2022 East Africa Court of Justice of
the strange ruling in the case about the 2017 mass arson operation (Reference No.10 of 2017) was heard on
15th May and the date for ruling will be communicated.
Application
No.2 of 2022, a contempt of court application, filed in
January 2022, when RC Mongella started making threats of alienating the 1,500
km2, against which the East African Court of Justice had
issued an injunction in September 2018. An affidavit was filed after every
court order, and everything else, had been violated. This important case was
heard in November in Kampala, and it seems like the court have scheduled it for
delivery of ruling on the Preliminary Objection in June (I’m looking to
confirm this).
Reference
No.29 of 2022 in the East African Court of Justice
is not about the brutal Loliondo land theft but challenges the coordinated and
suffocating policies in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Apparently, there’s
still nothing scheduled for this case.
On 10th May there
was a hearing in Criminal Appeal No. 9 of 2023 filed by two
cattle owners, Baraka Moson Kesoi and Raphael Oleruye Oloishiro, from Bulati in
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, who in January were fined the usual extortion of
TShs 100,000 per head of cattle and 25,000 per sheep or goat for grazing in the
Nadengare area that’s shared between Malambo in Sale and some areas in NCA.
This case is challenging:
1. Imposition of TShs 100,000 fines as unfounded
in the law.
2. Jurisdictions of the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area in imposing compounding fees in “Pololeti Game
Reserve”.
The ruling will be on 28th
June.
Msomera
villagers speaking up and a reminder of the NCAA threats that keep intensifying
Several villagers of Msomera
village, Handeni district, Tanga region met with the press and on 4th
April and following this, their testimonies have been in online media, to some
extent regular media (Mwananchi), and even foreign media (Le Monde and DW).
The plan for a fast-tracked
“voluntary” relocation of Ngorongoro Maasai to Handeni and Kitwai Game
Controlled Areas was leaked the first days of 2022 (remember that this is about
NCA and NOT Loliondo). It was so stupidly written that it looked fake, and
people were initially told not to report on it, so that the leak would not be
put in danger. Since GCAs are village land, it was from the start clear that
the plan was to relocate Ngorongoro Maasai to other people’s land. Then it took
several months for there to be reports, including one by the Oakland Institute,
about the confused Msomera villagers who had been “informed”, or hardly even
that, but threatened, at gunpoint when they were living in a registered village
with a detailed land use plan. Not until the government-commandeered visit by
the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in late January 2023 were
Msomera villagers speaking up directly to the press, in between the Tanga RC’s
rather insane threats and lies that were taking most space, right next to the
commissioners that didn’t do anything to stop it, accusing the Msomera
villagers of being invaders with less rights to the land than the migrants from
Ngorongoro. One of those speaking up was Sauda Kimweri who was arrested with a
three-month old child for trying to prevent a Ngorongoro migrant from planting
on her farm. Sauda has continued speaking up.
I don’t know if, even in the
case of Loliondo that I know very, very well, I am able to convey the level of
lawlessness and lying shown by the Tanzanian government. The retired Msomera
village chairman has explained how Msomera, after having been a sub-village
where people had lived since before colonial days, was registered as a full
village in 1992, and how villagers had got title deeds to their own plots. In
January 2022, a long caravan of vehicles, with armed escort and high government
representatives, including Arusha RC, John Mongella, set up camp and started
demarcation on people’s land in a very threatening way and in February 2022
Prison Services moved in to build 103 houses for migrants from Ngorongoro.
Several villagers, title deed in hand, have now spoken up, but the government
just goes on with, and increasing, its propaganda. When Msomera villagers had
met the press in April, the organization of anti-Maasai journalists, MECIRA,
formed in early 2022, went to Ngorongoro to prepare more propaganda. The
government’s own criminal restrictions are used as an argument against the
Ngorongoro Maasai.
Also complaints by those "voluntarily" relocated are increasingly being heard, about unfulfilled promises and other people's land.
Shortly after the relocation
plan was leaked the first days of 2022, RC Mongella went to Loliondo to issue
terrible threats, and then the anti-Maasai propaganda went crazy in the press and
in a whole parliamentary debate on 9th February 2022. The incitement
against the Maasai of Ngorongoro was so aggressive that it seemed like the
armed government attack would erupt there and not in Loliondo. However, it was
Loliondo that was brutally attacked by security forces lawlessly demarcating a
protected area.
Restrictions strangling the
Ngorongoro Maasai in every way to make them leave their home have been imposed
for decades and there were earlier relocation efforts in 2006, to the less
remote (compared to Handeni) Jema, from where many Maasai have returned to
Ngorongoro. These people were threatened in April 2021, shortly after Samia
Suluhu Hassan came into office and started incitement in a more specific way
than any earlier president. Widespread demolition orders were issued and
removed after protests, fake Maasai representatives, not from Ngorongoro, were
used in government spectacles, and ranger violence increased, leading to
protests that were cut short when MP Olenasha unexpectedly, and too early,
passed away. In September 2021, a video was purposefully uploaded in which NCAA
Chief Conservator Freddy Manongi tells the notorious deputy minister Mary
Masanja that there’s a war, that the pastoralists have many “conspiracies”, and
the conservationists must “start” developing their own conspiracies.
Then, as mentioned, in early
2022, the fast-track relocation plan was revealed. Already in this plan was the
idea of using COVID-19 money mentioned, and such funds for Ngorongoro schools
were then – though orders to headteachers in official letters from DED Mhina -
transferred to Handeni. Already funded social service projects are blocked for
lack of permits since 2021, and since October 2022 there are efforts to
downgrade and eventually close down Endulen Hospital.
The focus on the anti-Maasai
reporting by MECIRA “journalists” has recently been, more than the earlier
crazy slander and dehumanization, to show desperate people whose relatives have
died for not being able to access health emergencies. This terrible situation
is being very, very purposefully created by the government to force to Maasai
out of NCA, and then the government’s own journalists use the resulting terror
as crocodile tear propaganda for relocation. The level of evil is staggering.
After the evictions from
Ngorongoro Crater in 1975 and the re-introduction – following “grave concerns”
by UNESCO - of a total cultivation ban in 2009 (lifted in 1992 after first
being introduced in 1975), there was a very big blow against the Ngorongoro
Maasai in 2017 when PM Kassim Majaliwa, through order and not law, removed
access for the Maasai to the three craters Ngorongoro, Olmoti, and Empakaai,
which has led the loss of 90% of grazing and water for Nainokanoka, Ngorongoro,
Misigiyo wards, and a 100% loss of natural saltlicks for livestock in these
wards. Replacement salt provided by NCAA has in laboratories shown to be
adulterated and has reportedly led to widespread cattle death.
Don’t forget that in September
2019, chief conservator Freddy Manongi made public a Multiple Land Use Model
review proposal – called for by UNESCO, IUCN and ICOMOS - which was so
destructive that it would lead to the end of Maasai livelihoods and culture in
Ngorongoro District. Only 18% of the expanded NCA would remain for people and
livestock. This genocidal zoning proposal included the annexation of the now
illegally demarcated areas in Loliondo that the horrible Pindi Chana indeed
illegally declared annexed to NCAA on 28th September 2022. The 2019
announcement was followed by so many protest statements – by NCA Maasai - that
I lost count, while those in Loliondo, for inexplicable reasons, almost
pretended that nothing was happening. The current fake and illegal “Pololeti
Game Reserve” that’s killing the Loliondo Maasai - who didn’t wake up until the
RC’s aggressive threats in early 2022, even if the government’s intentions have
never been hidden - looks exactly as proposed in the genocidal proposal.
Remember that the Maasai
already lost access to over 14,000 km2 when evicted from Serengeti in 1959 by
the colonial government, and as a compromise deal, they were guaranteed the
right to continue occupying the 8,292 km² Ngorongoro Conservation Area as a
multiple land-use area administered by the government, in which natural
resources would be conserved primarily for their interest, but with due regard
for wildlife, and in case of conflict the interest of the Maasai would take
precedence. This promise was obviously not kept at all and the government’s story
is based on population panic and tourism cult, with the most unfortunate
constant added pressure from UNESCO.
Apparently, much ranger
violence in NCA goes unreported. In the previous blog post I wrote about
terrible violent abuse, including rape, by rangers in collusion with owners of
so-called cultural bomas in Endulen and Olbalbal, against women who independently
sell cultural ornaments in the Golini area. I’ve been further informed that the
women have repeatedly since September 2022, been locked up at Ngorongoro Police
Station and fines have been extorted from them.
On 17th May, there
was a traditional ceremony at Ndonyo Sub-village in Nasipooriong' village, NCA.
Peace, blessings and reconciliation among Nyangulo agemates were among the issues
raised during the ceremony. One attendant explained to me that keeping such
valuable traditional events is of great importance in the community, and when
all Maasai are displaced to different parts of the country, as advocated by the
government in the eviction efforts, the Maasai community will lose these important
cultural aspects.
Meanwhile, another luxury
hotel is being renovated, or is already finished, at the site of the old
Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, right at the rim of Ngorongoro crater, Meliá
Ngorongoro Lodge with 28 rooms and 24 spacious suites with views of the crater,
accompanied by two restaurants, a barbecue area, a pool and a spa.
NCA
protest banners at visit by the VP
On 17th May, Vice
President Philip Mpango visit Ngorongoro District to inaugurate various
projects (in Loliondo and Sale divisions), mostly the the Wasso-Sale road, and
not address the land issue in any way. However, at an open meeting in Wasso,
several youths from NCA handed over protest placards against the suffocation of
social services in Ngorongoro division to the vice president who picked them up
and read some of them. Now there are reports that these youths are receiving
threats.
There have been rumours for almost a month now that the CCM general secretary, Daniel Chongolo, would visit the district immediately after the VP, but he has not. Instead, these are currently visiting, CCM Political Committee Arusha Region, with the implementor of the war against the Maasai, RC John Mongella:
They have sadly already been seen with certain councillors.
Don’t mix up
Loliondo and NCA!
Loliondo:
Loliondo and Sale divisions of Ngorongoro District. A local police state at the
service of OBC – that has had the hunting block (4,000 km2) covering
the whole of Loliondo and part of Sale, since 1993 - and the American Thomson
Safaris that claim a private nature refuge. For many years a constant threat of
robbing the Maasai of 1,500 km2 of vitally important grazing land,
expecting them and their livestock to squeeze into the remaining land. Major
illegal and extremely violent operations in 2009, 2017, and then the worst (and
ongoing) in 2022 when the 1,500 km2 were brutally and lawlessly
demarcated as protected area, evicting the Maasai. Vicious hate campaign by the
reporter Manyerere Jackton since around 2010.
Ngorongoro
Conservation Area: Ngorongoro division of Ngorongoro
District. Harsh restrictions on every aspect of life under the rule of the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) and its chief conservator Freddy
Manongi, instigated by UNESCO and IUCN. Blocking of funds for social services
since 2021. Illegal transfer of COVID-19 funds to Msomera in Handeni to where
the Maasai are supposed to relocate “voluntarily”, displacing the Msomera
villagers. In 2022, a vicious hate campaign in media and in parliament. In
September 2022, the management of the stolen 1,500 km2 in Loliondo was placed
under the NCAA, which had been an open threat since 2019.
Brief mention
of colonial conservation elsewhere in Tanzania
This blog is about Loliondo
and Ngorongoro, but remember that the Tanzanian government is at war against
pastoralists and other rural people all over Tanzania, since their land is
wanted for the deranged tourism cult. Some recent examples from areas where I
don’t have contacts:
On 6th May, TANAPA
rangers landed in helicopters to beat up villagers in Mbarali who’re resisting
the expansion of Ruaha National Park, known as GN No.28, against which there’s
an ongoing court case and an injunction that was violated. In the village of Mwanawala an unknown woman
pilot saved women from being raped by the TANAPA rangers. But they were beaten
and undressed.
On 9th May in
Tarime all fifteen village and sub-village chairpersons, from the CCM ruling
party, in the Nyanunugu and Gorong’a wards resigned in protest of the expansion
of Serengeti National Park to the west. This was the day after ministers landed
to scold villagers opposing the forceful planting of beacons. Deputy Minister
of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mary Masanja, true to character, spoke in a
particularly aggressive and deranged way. In parliament on the 11th
PM Majaliwa said that the chairpersons retained their positions after assurance
that the government will address the conflict, but he’s such a liar that it can
mean anything.
In Mto Wa Mbu, on 22nd
May, a young man, Hassan Said, was shot to death by rangers from Manyara
National Park during a confrontation, after fishermen had their boats knocked
over by the TANAPA rangers who wanted to arrest “trespassers”. There’s a
boundary conflict between the village of Jangwani and the national park
management. Rangers have a habit of knocking and sinking boats, and several
fishermen have “disappeared” in the past. Minister Mchengerwa intervened
insulting the fishermen, calling them poachers, while lauding the rangers’
bravery.
In Simanjiro the old threat
against the village of Kimotorok by expansion of Mkungunero Game Reserve has
been revived, villagers have again been told to leave their homes, and on 22nd
May there were protests.
These are just some cases seen
in media. Other cases go unreported, like the warlike attack by rangers from
Mahale Mountain National Park on the village of Kalilani in June 2022, that
wasn’t reported in any visible media. Sanctions are needed. All tourism to Tanzania
must be boycotted.
Stop suffocating the Maasai of
Ngorongoro Conservation Area with restrictions and blocking of social services!
Bring back mzee Oleng'iyo!
Return the 1,500 km2 to the Maasai! Uproot the illegal beacons!
Shred President Samia’s lawless GN No.64 to pieces! Punish everyone involved in
the brutal Loliondo land theft!
Stop the crime legitimizing draft
2023-2043 Ngorongoro District Land Use Framework Plan and punish everyone facilitating
it! Don’t let anyone get away!
Susanna
Nordlund is a working-class person based in Sweden who since 2010 has been
blogging about Loliondo (increasingly also about NCA) and has her fingerprints
thoroughly registered with Immigration so that she will not be able to enter
Tanzania through any border crossing, ever again. She has never worked for any
NGO or intelligence service and hasn’t earned a shilling from her Loliondo
work. She can be reached at sannasus@hotmail.com
1st June
The German Embassy in Tanzania tweeted:
On 6/6/2023, two young men who were herding livestock were
beaten in the Moram Ndutu area by NCA Ndutu rangers and robbed of their swords
and spears.
13/06/2023
The rangers arrested 27-year-old
Paresoi Kiboko and beat him badly. That day they took him to the Ngorongoro
Police Station where he was brought before the judge of the Ngorongoro Court of
First Instance and charged with two offences.
1. Grazing in a part of Marsh that is not
allowed
2. Threatening the rangers with
a spear.
He was imprisoned for 9
months.
A local researcher arrived at
the scene and the animals were not found in the restricted area of the Marsh
and the young man did not have a spear that day because they confiscated it on
6/6/2023.
On 18/6/2023 the spear was
returned to village chairmen of Endulen ward.
Paresoi's case was resolved via negotiations.
Hearing in the case against six people from Ololosokwan. For some reason, they are refusing advocates.
28th June
The ruling in Criminal Appeal No. 9 of 2023 was postponed
to 28th July, since the judge did not attend.
8th July
There was a Ngorongoro division Community meeting held
at Endulen ward. The main agenda were:
1. Feedback from MP.
2. Resuming all socio-economic development project with
budget allocated but without building permit from NCA.
3. Resuming prayers and protest.
4. Taking action over restricted pasture areas like
Ormoti, Empakaai and Ndutu.
5. Building toilets in the schools where the pupils
are defecating in the bushes.
13th July
15-year-old Joshua Olepatorro was brutally beaten, his teeth smashed out by NCA rangers who caught him after grazing cattle in Ormoti crater.
19th July
Joseph Parsambei took his stinking treason some steps further down the drain, holding a talk about silly "customary rights of occupancy" for some elders, and sending this all over media to show that there isn't any conflict in Loliondo and people want to work with the government on land use planning.
27th July
Reports without details that in Kirtalo livestock belonging to Moniko, Kairrung, Olepanga and Olereiya had been seized by rangers.
28th July
Ruling in Criminal Appeal No. 9 of 2023
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